Clays4Kids
event communications
Each year, in August, aTeam Ministries hosts a clay shoot to raise support and awareness for their ministry. Clays4Kids provides an opportunity for the parents of our patient families, our corporate partners, our volunteers, and our staff — our extended 'team'— to get outdoors and grow deeper in community. Funds raised at this event help support aTeam's programs.
The Why.
I love any chance to get out from behind my computer to interact with the people I’m designing for. For aTeam, that means hanging out with our patient families! The great thing about designing for an event is that the design work is over before the event ever begins. This frees me up to fill in gaps as-needed—usually shooting photography. At Clays4Kids, I scoot around the farm on a golf cart catching as many moments as I can and chatting up our teams! “How’s the school year going for Bri?” “What is Henry up to now that he’s off-treatment?” Bri and Henry are the Why. Getting to know their families better reminds me that, in its own weird way, designing golf cart signs and social media posts makes a difference for them.
Buying in.
The kids are certainly the “Why” behind aTeam Ministries. But aTeam can’t do much of anything without community buy-in. It’s important that our community knows we take their support very seriously, and that we can be trusted with their resources. Part of the way I help earn that trust is through professional communications. Our branded materials should clearly communicate information in a way that values each reader as an important player in our mission. It should reflect our good stewardship of resources—strong design and smart, economic choices. No one invests in aTeam for the luxe brand materials. You’re not likely to see die-cutting or embossing on our print jobs and our shirts are mostly one-color screen printing. Materials should also reinforce our why. Professional materials on a budget that also say, “We’re about the kiddos, here!”
